Professor Rahn Is Conducting a Study on the Effects of Caffeine

question 31

Essay

Professor Rahn is conducting a study on the effects of caffeine on college students' study habits. His research question is: Will students who consume moderate doses of caffeine prior to studying perform better on an exam than students who do not consume any caffeine prior to studying? Professor Rahn randomly assigns students to one of two groups: One group is given two caffeinated beverages prior to studying, and the second group is given beverages without caffeine. Both groups of students believe they are consuming caffeinated beverages. According to research on experimental controls, what is the second group of participants receiving?

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Definitions:

Agricultural Diversification

The practice of growing a variety of crops or engaging in different agricultural activities to reduce risk and increase sustainability in farming.

Crop-Lien System

A credit system widely used in the Southern United States after the Civil War, where farmers used their crops as collateral for loans, leading to cycles of debt and poverty.

Southern Farmers

Generally refers to agricultural workers and landowners in the Southern United States, historically dependent on crops like cotton and tobacco, and deeply affected by the Civil War and subsequent economic changes.

Hatch Act

A U.S. federal law enacted in 1939 that restricts the political activities of government employees in order to ensure the neutrality of the public service.